3 October 2013

Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

I've been raving about this book and I just realised I

hadn't actually posted my review - oops!

What they say:Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

Published by HarperCollins in Sept 2013 as an eBook.

What I say: I originally read the blurb for A Little Too Far because Jennifer L. Armentrout had been raving about the book and posted a link to it. I then came across a sample chapter online and decided I needed to read this complicated story. A Little Too Far is a complicated story, but it isn't nearly as controversial as it sounds and is really enjoyable.

Without being spoilery, the story in a nutshell: American College student Lexie has split with her cheating boyfriend, but bumps into him the night before she's leaving for a year study-abroad scheme in Rome (lucky her, I mean it's ROME!). Upset over her run in with the 'asshat', Lexie confides in her stepbrother and best friend Trent. Throw in some whisky and I think you can guess what happens next (or just read the blurb). Lexie then leaves for Italy extremely confused and distressed she's ruined her friendship with Trent and throws herself into her life in Rome. Lexie becomes friends with priest in training Alessandro.

The great thing is this isn't a love triangle. Trent isn't really in the narrative all that much, he exists in Lexie's thoughts. Alessandro shows Lexie his Rome and encourages her studies and shows her a new career direction. The story works because both men are important to her in different ways. Alessandro has a lot of his own issues to deal with yet he is a great support for Lexie and never judges her.

I found myself extremely torn between the two guys and felt they both suited Lexie. Some parts of the story are really sad. I found Alessandro's backstory particularly harsh and wanted him to get a HEA. I also felt for Trent, he was suffering the consequences alone. Lisa Desrochers does a great job of drawing readers into the story, which never felt sensational or like she was trying to profit from controversy. A Little Too Far is a story made complicated because of circumstance.

4 - 4.5 Stars in my Sky!My fav non-spoilery quotes:

It wasn't the rumor mill. Or it was, I guess. It was a combination of my boyfriend being an asshat and the rumor mill.

Oh. My. God. How is it that I'm standing here with an almost-priest listening to him talking about "stroking the penis upon entry"?

I can survive without you, but I can't live.

You can see the cover reveal for the follow up book A Little Too Muchhere!!